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TTU researchers’ Romneycare results now available in Health Care Management Review

With the U.S. Supreme Court decision looming on the fate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) - informally known as Obamacare - two Texas Tech University researchers and a former colleague have published research that shows a similar plan implemented by Mitt Romney in Massachusetts did not work well for hospital productivity in the short term.

28 Jun 2012

Gay dads may experience lifestyle shifts that could reduce HIV risk

Gay parents face many of the same challenges as straight parents when it comes to sex and intimacy after having children, according to a new study of gay fathers published in the journal Couple and Family Psychology.

28 Jun 2012

Cigna enters agreement with Humana to purchase Medicare Advantage plans in Texas, Arkansas

Cigna today announced that it has come to an agreement with Humana to purchase select Medicare Advantage plans in Texas and Arkansas. The plans in the three markets - Amarillo, Longview-Marshall and Texarkana - are part of a previously announced government-stipulated divestiture for Humana to complete its acquisition of Arcadian Health.

28 Jun 2012

Registry proves invaluable for fibromuscular dysplasia patients

A patient registry is proving invaluable in cataloging the clinical features, symptoms, severity, and outcomes of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), a non-inflammatory vascular disease that can cause narrowing of arteries in the carotid (neck) and renal (kidney) arteries, which can result in headache, strokes, and aneurysms.

27 Jun 2012

Obese patients with appendix less likely to have complications after minimally invasive procedure

Obese patients who need to have their appendixes removed fare better after a minimally invasive surgical procedure rather than an open operation, according to a new study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

27 Jun 2012

Patient registry yields new data that is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment of FMD

27 Jun 2012

Decline in preventive mammography rates after USPSTF recommendation

Preventive mammography rates in women in their 40s have dropped nearly 6 percent nationwide since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against routine mammograms for women in this age group, a Mayo Clinic analysis shows.

27 Jun 2012

Oxford University Press launches PASSit for medical community

Royal College exams are a critical hurdle in a doctor's career. Oxford University Press is pleased to be launching PASSit, an online service which will meet doctors' demands for high quality exam revision tools on their PCs and tablets.

27 Jun 2012

Marker to identify patients who have difficulties in maintaining body weight

A pre-diet measurement of two hormones related to weight regulation can help predict which dieters will be more likely to maintain their weight loss and who will not, according to a new study. The results will be presented Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

26 Jun 2012

First Edition: June 26, 2012

Today's headlines include reports setting the scene for Thursday's Supreme Court decision that will determine the health law's future.

26 Jun 2012

Continuing care approach reduces overall health costs for patients with SUD

For patients with substance use disorders (SUD), a continuing care approach like that used for other chronic diseases reduces long-term health care costs, reports a study in the June issue of Medical Care.

26 Jun 2012

Amgen launches Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts campaign for cancer patients

Amgen today launched Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts, an awareness campaign for cancer patients and their caregivers featuring Emmy-nominated actress and breast cancer survivor Maura Tierney.

26 Jun 2012

Researchers develop inexpensive system that offers benefits of cardiac rehabilitation programmes

Researchers at the Universidad Poltécnica de Madrid (UPM) have developed an inexpensive system that offers the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation programmes for patients who currently cannot access them.

26 Jun 2012

New system provides comprehensive remote monitoring solution for the chronically ill

As Europe's population ages, chronic diseases are becoming increasingly widespread. Characterised by gradually deteriorating health and recurring incidents often requiring immediate medical attention, chronic illnesses have a severe impact on patients' autonomy and life quality and are putting increasing strain on over-stretched healthcare systems.

26 Jun 2012

Inexpensive exome sequencing can quickly detect heterogeneous diseases

The first report of the diagnostic use of the technique of exome sequencing, where short sequences of DNA are analysed, shows that it can give good results at low cost, a researcher from The Netherlands will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics.

25 Jun 2012

GOP weekly address blasts health law

President Barack Obama advocated for his jobs package while Rep. Bill Cassidy argued against the health reform law as they stood by their parties' positions Saturday during their weekly addresses. Obama called on Congress to pass a transportation bill, expand access to college and fund infrastructure projects. Cassidy, a (Louisiana) Republican, argued that the health reform law signed by Obama in 2010 had an effect of "driving up health care costs, making it harder for small businesses to hire workers."

25 Jun 2012

Viewpoints: Looking beyond the court's eventual decision

Speculation about the likely death of "Obamacare" has raged ever since the Supreme Court heard three intense days of legal arguments in March. The pundits have crowed about how the individual mandate is the Achilles' heel of President Obama's healthcare law (Theda Skocpol and Lawrence R. Jacobs, 6/20).

22 Jun 2012

Mid-urethral sling may reduce risk of urinary incontinence after surgery

For many adult women, supporting tissues in and around their vagina weaken to the point where the bladder and other organs descend from their normal position, creating a hernia into the vaginal wall known as pelvic organ prolapse. One in five women will undergo surgery to repair such prolapse.

22 Jun 2012

Ads take issue with health law

News outlets report on various ad campaigns designed to criticize the Democrats' health law.

22 Jun 2012

Poll: Majority want new effort if court overturns health law

A new Associated Press-GfK poll found that Americans want Congress and the president to work on new legislation to overhaul the health care system if the high court rules that the 2010 health law is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, the lead attorney for the states challenging the law said it's difficult to predict what the court will do.

21 Jun 2012